Typewriter ribbon vibrator



TYPEWRITER RIBBON VIBRATOR Filed May 14. 1962 FIG. FIG 2 /N|/ENTO/? ROBERT FOND/LLER A T TOPNEV United States Patent 3,137,380 TYPEWRITER RIBBON VIBRATOR Robert Fondiller, 33 W. 63rd St., New York 23, N.Y. Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,349

2 Claims. (Cl. 197-170) This invention relates to a typewriter ribbon guide and, more particularly, to a ribbon vibrator. A broad object of this invention is to provide a typewriter ribbon vibrator Which is of simple construction and is arranged to facilitate the insertion of the typewriter ribbon.

In conventional ribbon vibrators the insertion of a ribbon has been a problem because of the limited size of the guide slot through which the ribbon is threaded. Prior arrangements which have been proposed generally involve increasing the size of the guide slot. These arrangements, however, introduce the additional problem of properly securing the ribbon against displacement from the guide slot. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a ribbon guide which is arranged to facilitate the introduction of a ribbon and secures the ribbon in the guide slot against displacement.

A further object of this inventionis to provide a ribbon guide which is arranged to provide desirable stilfening against the stresses imposed by the ribbon insertion and removal. I r

In accordance with the present invention the guide includes a vibrator body and a pair of guide posts. Inte- 2 3 7 and fingers 9. Each of fingers 9 is integral with a respective one of guide posts 6 extending from an intermediate portion of guide posts 6 to a .point substantially above hooked arms 7. In addition, lower portion 10 of fingers 9 which connects to guide posts 6, is included in this same plane as guide posts 6 whereby fingers 9 form an acute angle 11 with guide posts 6 at the lower pork tion of slots 8. Thusthe ribbon, when insertedin guide slots 8, is firmly, secured against displacement by the gral with the guide posts are a pair of fingers which extend forwardly and upwardly from the guide posts to form the guide slot. The fingers are arranged to extend substantially above the guide posts whereby a ribbon may be easily threaded into the guide slot by impressing the ribbon against the fingers and then lowering the ribbon through the guide slot. The fingers are constructed with a U-shaped cross-section opening away from the guide posts thereby providing the desirable stifiening and presenting a smooth surface for threading the ribbon. r

The means for fulfilling the foregoing objects and the practical embodiment of the features of this invention will be fully understood from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the ribbon vibrator,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ribbon vibrator as seen from the left of FIG. 1, and I FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of a portion of the ribbon vibrator when viewed along line 33 as seen in FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, vibrator body 1 is indicated connected to flange 2. Flange 2, in turn, is

formed with a flange extension or ear 3 whichis turned at right angles to flange '2; Slot 4 is provided in flange extension 3 for the insertion of the vibrator actuator bar, not shown.

The upper end of vibrator body 1 defines a pair of arms 5 which bend rearwardly and then project upwardly to form guide posts 6. Guide posts 6 terminate at the upper end thereof in hooked arms 7 which function to enclose the upper portion of guide slot 8.

Guide slot 8 is formed by guide posts 6, hooked arms:

close lateral proximity of fingers 9 and guide posts 6.

To provide the desirable-stifiening forfingers 9 against the pressure of the ribbon when it is inserted, the fingers are'arranged in a U-shaped cross-section as seen in FIG.

3. To present asmooth surface for threading the ribbon,

opening 12 of the U-shaped cross-section is presented away from guide posts 6-whereby smooth surface 13 7 provides one side of slot 8.

To thread the ribbon intoslots 8, the ribbon is placed. longitudinally across fingers 7 and above. guide posts .6 and then biased to the left of hooks 7, as viewed in FIG.

.2 and urged down into, slots 8. It hasbeen found. that when the ribbon is placed longitudinally across'fingers 7, two-thirds of the ribbon should be supported by fingers 7 so that the ribbon will'not bend over the'ends of fingers '7 and be thereby hooked thereupon when urged into slots 8,. r

Although 'a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit of this invention and'within the scope of the appended claims. i

What is claimed is:

1.- A typewriter ribbon guide comprising a pair of vertical guide posts lying in a'vertical plane, a pair of straight fingers, each of said fingers extending upwardly at an acuteangle with'said vertical plane from an intermediate point on an associated one of said guideposts' to form a guide slot'and having an etfective length eXCeeding-the distance from the top of said guide ,post to said intermediate point by substantially two-thirds the width 3 of said ribbon.

2. A typewriter ribbon guide comprising a pair. of 1 7 vertical guide posts lying in a vertical plane, a pair of 3 straight fingers, each of saidfingers extending upwardly at an acute angle with said vertical. plane from an intermediate point .onan associated one of said guide posts to form a guide slot and having an efiective length exceeding the distance from the top of said guide'post to I said intermediate point by' ,substantially two-thirds the width of said ribbon, said finger being arranged" in .a f U-shaped cross-section throughout the effective length thereof for providing stiffening against the pressure of the insertion of said" typewriter ribbon, said U-shaped cross-section opening away from said associated guide 3,137,380 Patented June 16,1964 

2. A TYPEWRITER RIBBON GUIDE COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICAL GUIDE POSTS LYING A VERTICAL PLANE, A PAIR OF STRAIGHT FINGERS, EACH OF SAID FINGERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH SAID VERTICAL PLANE FROM AN INTERMEDIATE POINT ON AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID GUIDE POSTS TO FORM A GUIDE SLOT AND HAVING AN EFFECTIVE LENGTH EXCEEDING THE DISTANCE FROM THE TOP OF SAID GUIDE POST TO SAID INTERMEDIATE POINT BY SUBSTANTIALLY TWO-THIRDS THE WIDTH OF SAID RIBBON, SAID FINGER BEING ARRANGED IN A 